Iran says will hold ‘high-level’ talks with EU

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s foreign minister said Tuesday that “high-level” talks will soon be launched with the European Union following a nuclear agreement reached with world powers earlier this month.

Mohammad Javad Zarif said the talks “in the near future” would focus on energy, the environment and human rights, as well as “extremism, terrorism and sectarianism” in the Middle East. He spoke after meeting with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in Tehran.

Zarif said the talks would begin at the deputy minister level and later be upgraded to foreign ministers.

“Various issues are matters of interest for both sides, such as energy, transportation, trade, environment, human rights and drug (trafficking),” he said.

He called on the United States to implement the nuclear deal in order to “remove the mistrust of the Iranian people,” and said Tehran would follow through on its commitments.

The landmark agreement calls for Iran to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for relief from international sanctions.

President Hassan Rouhani met with Mogherini as well, and also suggested Iran and the EU pursue closer relations.

“Scientific, cultural and political relations with the EU should be developed,” Rouhani was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency. “However, promoting economic and trade relations is more accessible and easier.”